Membership Form

H.E.L.P.S. Disclaimer 2020 - 2021

H.E.L.P.S. (Homeschoolers Encouraging Learning & Providing Support) and any of its leaders, members or the member's personal homeowner insurance will not be responsible or liable for any damage to person(s), child/children, or personal items, including lost or stolen, misplaced or left behind at a facility during any meeting, field trip or other activities organized by H.E.L.P.S. or by any of its volunteer members. This also includes auto transportation or damage to automobile(s) to and from any H.E.L.P.S. event or activity.

H.E.L.P.S. Member Waiver 2020 - 2021

I, or any of my family members will not hold H.E.L.P.S. Support group, any of its associates, members or family members, any facility rented and/or used, or any member's personal homeowners insurance responsible or liable for any damage to person(s), child/children or personal items, including lost or stolen, misplaced or left behind at a facility during any meeting, field trip or other activities organized by H.E.L.P.S. or by any of its volunteer members. This also includes auto transportation or damage to automobile(s) to and from any H.E.L.P.S. event or activity. I, as a parent am responsible for my child's behavior at all H.E.L.P.S. functions. I will also be liable for any property damage done by myself or my child/children, to any facility that H.E.L.P.S. uses or rents. I commit to having my children understand and follow the etiquette guidelines (see section below). I will have them prepared to follow instructions given by field trip and events helpers.

H.E.L.P.S. Field Trip & Activity Rules & Etiquette 2020 – 2021

A signed or electronically signed waiver must be on file with the HELPS Board in order to attend any HELPS event

Etiquette during meetings, field trips, small groups, co-op and H.E.L.P.S. Activities:

For the sake of our insurance, drinking is strictly prohibited at any event that is sponsored and held in the name of HELPS

Parents are liable for property damage incurred by their family member to any facilities used during H.E.L.P.S. activities. I, nor my children, will discuss any other families' and/or children's behavior with others in the group. Gossip is not permitted.

Activity Rules & Policies: Reservation for field trips will not be accepted after the deadline. Once you have signed up for a field trip, any fees need to be paid to secure your spot. Unpaid reservations will be deleted without notice. H.E.L.P.S. will send out a confirmation email and a reminder email prior to each field trip. CANCELLATION: If you are unable to attend a field trip, contact the group leader as soon as possible. We often have a waiting list.

DO NOT leave children unattended at any time. Parents are responsible for their own children (including teens) from the beginning to the end of any H.E.L.P.S. Activities. Using appropriate behavior (listed below in small group sections, but not limited only to the age group it is listed under) or obeying special rules of facilities during field trips and activities is required.

Children need to be respectful of all adults and other children at HELPS events and activities. Hitting, punching, fighting, biting, and foul language or any horseplay will not be tolerated and may result in asking the child to be removed. If you witness inappropriate behavior, report it to the leader or person in charge of the activity, who will then report it to a Board Member

PROMPT ARRIVAL: We often wait until everyone has arrived to start the field trip. Therefore, prompt arrival is very important. Facility Rules: Children and parents must obey the facility's rules and follow H.E.L.P.S. rule and etiquette.

Child Care Policy: Child Care will be provided at HELPS Meetings when possible Children must be 8 years old or younger to attend Child Care. Children who are older than 8 may not stay in the Childcare room. They must sit with their parents, in the meeting room. Older siblings may not stay in the Childcare room to watch their younger siblings. The cost of Childcare is $2 per child and must be paid the night that Child Care is used. An RSVP is necessary so that we may provide an appropriate number of child care providers.

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT THE SMALL GROUP POLICIES:

Please understand that while our HELPS group has a variety of parenting and schooling styles, it is our goal to foster a safe and open environment for all to have encouragement and assistance. In order to do this, we must set and enforce policies on different topics that are detailed within this waiver. These policies, in no way, shape, form or fashion are made to persuade your personal beliefs on teaching or on your parenting decisions. What you allow for your household and children to do outside of HELPS events, is your choice, but understand that the rules, even if different from yours, must be followed when attending any HELPS event or posting on the HELPS pages.

HELPS High School Group Policy:

Participation in the HELPS High School Group includes all students entering the 9th through 12th grades. Teen Group is not open to sibling participation.

• There will not be any type of public affection between students and/or guests while at all HELPS sponsored activities (not just teen events). This includes, but is not limited to kissing, holding hands, sitting on laps, extended hugging, unnecessary touching and any others interaction that can be deemed relational by the group leader.

• Modest attire is expected at all HELPS events (not just teen events). No shirts showing midriffs, belly buttons, cleavage, or shear without an appropriate undershirt underneath. No pants showing hip bones, sagging or too short that shows the “rearage” while standing or bending over. Undergarments should not be visible. Clothing with questionable graphics should not be worn. .

HELPS Middle School Group Policy:

Participation in the HELPS Middle School Group includes all students entering the 5th through 8th grades. Middle School Group is not open to sibling participation.

• There will not be any type of public affection between students and/or guests while at all HELPS sponsored activities (not just middle school events). This includes, but is not limited to kissing, holding hands, sitting on laps, extended hugging, unnecessary touching and any others interaction that can be deemed relational by the group leader.

REFUNDS: Refunds WILL NOT be given if you and your family were unable to make it to the field trip

• Modest attire is expected at all HELPS events (not just middle school events). No shirts showing midriffs, belly buttons, cleavage, or shear without an appropriate undershirt underneath. No pants showing hip bones, sagging or too short that shows the “rearage” while standing or bending over. Undergarments should not be visible. Clothing with questionable graphics should not be worn

HELPS Band of Boys:

In order to participate on the HELPS Band of Boys activities, students should be 8 – 12 years old. Band of Boys is not open to sibling participation, but is up to the discretion of the small group leader

HELPS Home Ec:

In order to participate on the HELPS Home Ec activities, students should be 8 – 12 years old. Home Ec is not open to sibling participation, but is up to the discretion of the small group leader

HELPS We Play:

In order to participate on the HELPS We Play activities, students should be in pre-school - 2nd grade. Many We Play events are open to older sibling participation.

Discipline: While discipline may vary by type of offense and the magnitude of the offense, most mild to moderate offenses will be handled in the manner listed below. Any major offenses may initiate at any step of below listed discipline or skip any and all steps listed here and accelerate to the revoking of HELPS membership by vote of the HELPS board.

First Offense: A verbal warning will be given when the first offense happens. The Small group leader or Board member will stop the action and then communicate to the parents the offense and explain the rule(s) that was/were violated. It is then the parent’s job to communicate to their child as to why their actions were incorrect in the HELPS environment and the importance of adhering of the rules and policies detailed above.

Second Offense: An email from a Board member will be sent to the parent's email address on file addressing the rule that was violated and the discipline that will be issued based on level of the offense. It will then be the responsibility of the parent to communicate and enforce the contents of the email in order to adhere to the rules and policies detailed above. The consequences can include but not limited to a set number of event student cannot attend, parental chaperone at all time, asked to leave event to change clothing and not likely but have the possibility of removal from small group, co op or field trip

Third Offense: A meeting will be held with the parents of the student, after the Board has met to go over the history of corrective action and reach consensus on the next steps. The discipline may be but not limited to: removal from small group activities, suspension from co-op or possibly family removal from HELPS.

While it is never our goal to have to implement any of these disciplinary actions, they will be adjudicated with the violation of the policies detailed within this waiver.